In order to develop more effective treatments for Taiwanese patients with rare diseases, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital ("KMUH" in short) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pfizer to establish a gene therapy centre in the south of Taiwan to focus on the treatment and research of rare diseases.

There are close to 20,000 patients with rare diseases in Taiwan, and as many as 80% of rare diseases are genetically inherited, these patients have to live with the disease throughout their lives. This is why KMUH, together with Pfizer, has recently set up a gene therapy centre in the south to help patients with rare diseases.

Dr Inn-wen Chong, Superintendent of KMUH, said that as gene therapy is an important trend in the future development of the medical field, the hospital is actively involved in the field of gene therapy and hopes to bring its past research and practical experience into the cooperation with Pfizer in the said area. KMUH hopes to expand its international cooperation and international medical services through this important area of gene therapy to position KMUH a preferred medical centre down in south for Taiwanese patients with alternative treatment options. 

Dr Chung of the Department of Paediatrics also mentioned that Taiwan's newborn screening is the world's best, allowing many rare diseases to be diagnosed before they occur, and that many rare diseases often have a better prognosis if treatment is started before they occur.

Ms Cellina Yeh, Country Manager of Pfizer Taiwan, pointed out that this collaboration will bring in Pfizer's resources in the field of gene therapy, and in the future there will be opportunities for more academic exchanges and the cultivation of professional talents, and it is hoped that knowledge and opinions from the academia will be brought in to optimize product development. The company has also pledged to continue to invest resources down the road to build a leading gene therapy centre in southern Taiwan on an international scale, to provide better treatment options for patients.

Yeh also stressed that Pfizer's global research and development department will take note of Taiwan's unique and excellent neonatal screening policy, and will then include Taiwan in future early clinical trials for rare diseases, as well as establish closer collaboration with domestic medical centres.